The 05-24-23 Edition of the Fort Bend Star

By Landon Kuhlmann LKUHLMANN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

Deacon Jones was one of the men who played an instrumental part in bringing baseball to Fort Bend County. And in light of his passing, many involved with the Sugar Land baseball franchise are remembering and honoring their longtime friend. Jones, who has served as a special assistant for the Sugar

Memorial Day events to be held during extended weekend

Memorial Day, the national holiday that honors U.S. service members who have died while in active service, will be observed on Monday, May 29. In Fort Bend County, there will be two opportunities for the public to pay homage during the extended Memorial Day weekend.

On Sunday, May 28, beginning at 7:30 p.m., the area Exchange Clubs of the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast District will host "A Night to Remember" at Sugar Land Town Square. The family-friendly event will feature music from a Grammy Award-winning duo, as well as the Fort Bend Brass, dance per

A wide expanse of Sugar Land will soon undergo significant change after the Flour Corporation, whose name has graced a distinctive office building in the Lake Pointe area for decades, announced earlier this month that it is moving its Houston operations

to the Energy Corridor.

While the Fluor corporation has not owned the modernistic, 1980sera building for many years, the engineering design company's announcement that its approximately 1,600 employees will vacate 1 Fluor Daniel Drive by the second quarter of 2024 brings an end to the significant presence

It's virtually a brand new day for the City of Stafford after the departure last week of three long-standing members of City Council. But who will lead the Council from the mayor's seat remains unresolved, pending a run-off election.

During a specially called meeting on May 16, Position 4 Council member and Mayor Pro Tem Don Jones, Position 2 Council member Wen Guerra, and Position 6 Council member Ken Mathew - who all had challenged incumbent Mayor Cecil Willis in the May 6 municipal election, were officially bid adieu after making parting

Land Space Cowboys – formerly the Skeeters – passed away on May 8 according to the organization.

In the days and weeks since his passing, there has been an outpouring of remembrance by those whose crossed paths with Jones to honor and celebrate the life that he lived.

“He will be sorely missed in this community,” Fort Bend County Precinct 2 Commissioner Grady Prestage said. “He was quite an

individual.”

Jones appeared in 40 MLB games for the Chicago White Sox during the 1962-1963 and 1966 seasons, hitting .286 with a .797 OPS before retiring and becoming a roving hitting instructor according to the Space Cowboys. Jones would then serve as a hitting coach for the Houston Astros (1976-1982) and

the company has held in Sugar Land for four decades.

In a May 1 press release, Granite Properties announced that it had signed a 12-year lease with Fluor at the 13-story Three Eldrige building on North Eldridge Parkway. Fluor will fully occupy the 13-story, 308,186 square foot, Class A building.

comments. Mathew and Willis will face each other in the runoff election on June 6.

With four active members vying for the mayoral seat, tensions on City Council had been running high for weeks. But at the May 16 meeting, each of the departing members gave very conciliatory remarks after being presented by Willis with plaques honoring their combined 43 years of public service.

Guerra and Jones seemed particularly relieved to have the sometimes ugly race behind them. Guerra had originally planned to run in the 2020 special election to replace the deceased Mayor Leonard Scarcella, who before his death

Jennifer Kim, vice president and general manager of Fluor’s Houston operations, told the Fort Bend Star that the long-expected move brings Fluor, which specializes in engineering of energy-industry facilities, brings the company's operations closer to its customer base that is concentrated in the Energy Cooridor.

The move will also bring Fluor to a newer building (updated in 2020) that offers many of the amenities that are attractive to the younger workers that large companies like Fluor are seeking in a highly competitive labor market. Among those amenities, according to the Gran -

earlier that year had served for five decades, making him the longest-serving mayor in the United States. But Guerra opted to leave the race, clearing the path for Willis that year.

He said that after decades of

serving the city in various capacities, he was looking forward to spending more time with his large extended family.

Jones, who has been a vocal critic of the city's long-standing financial policies which he says keep Stafford from offering a high level of services to its residents, had clashed most fiercely with Willis in recent weeks, especially over his proposal to hold an orchestral concert for the city's first official Juneteenth festival this year.

That plan was ultimately voted down by the Council, largely over budget concerns, with the Council opting instead for a

Deacon

are "a hospitality-driven lobby with living-room style furniture, and commissioned paintings and sculptures inspired by nature."

The three-building Eldridge campus also offers an outdoor, covered workspace called The Yard, with a variety of seating options, WiFi and television sets. Three Eldridge also has space for a café and a conference and training center, according to the release.

While Fluor's new lease is only for the Three Eldridge building, it has the option to expand into the other building of the campus, Kim said. While its 1,600 employees in Sugar Land are far fewer than when the company first came to Sugar Land in the 1980s, the corporation currently has 300 open positions in its Houston operations, she said.

The city of Sugar Land had long sought to keep Fluor, one of the city's private employers, in the area, working with the corporation on the development of a 50-acre tract near the present site of the Smart Financial Centre for a new campus. But the company wound up selling the property last September as part of a re-thinking of its global real estate strategy, Kim said.

Kim said Fluor has long valued its association with Sugar Land, and a large portion of its employees at the 1 Fluor Drive building live in the city or nearby. While the company is moving its operations to the Energy

Corridor, she said it will continue to maintain an active presence through its community relations efforts.

Fluor's move leaves the future of the 1 Fluor Drive building in limbo. The building still has many current lessees, including the office of the Fort Bend Economic Development Corporation.

Elizabeth Huff, Sugar Land's economic development director, said the campus and the surrounding Lake Pointe area are a focus of the city's push to ensure that the city remains an economically vibrant place. In recent months, there have been several proposals, supported by city leaders, for new multipurpose developments in the area.

What becomes of the original 1984 Fluor building itself is one of the biggest questions. Kim, of Fluor, said the building was essentially a copy of the the company's then headquarters in Irvine, Calif. According to the Pacific Coast Architecture Database, that building, constructed between 1977-1981, was designed by the Seattle-based firm of architect Welton D. Becket.

Kim said the original design was based on significant input from Fluor engineers.

Huff said there are ongoing discussions for a new company to purchase the campus, but she could not disclose details.

"While we’re disappointed to see Fluor leave, we understand the space no longer fits the needs of the company from a physical, cost or workforce perspective,"

Sugar Land spokesman Doug Adolph said in an emailed statement. "That said, we see tremendous opportunity for this area. Lake Pointe, the area in which Fluor is located, is a key redevelopment area for our city and an incredible 52-acre opportunity for the future of Sugar Land. We’ve been planning for Fluor’s relocation and actively looking for new opportunities for this site.

"Currently in the Lake Pointe area, there are already two hotels, a thriving shopping center anchored by Whole Foods, urban homes and townhomes along the water and several office and event spaces. A 370-unit multifamily project by the Morgan Group –The Pearl is also in the works. (The project is also proposed to include five live/workunits, flex co-working office space and amenities for its residents.)." the statement said.

"We are working to diversify our office space options through our infill and redevelopment efforts, allowing businesses to find spaces that fit their needs. We are also focused on creating diverse housing options and the cultural/ entertainment amenities necessary to attract and retain primary employers. Businesses have told us that more diversity of housing options are needed to accommodate the needs of their workforce. This will keep our economy strong, fund the high level of services our residents expect, and ensure our tax rate remains among the state’s lowest among cities our size," the statement said.

MEMORIAL Digital Version on Fortbendstar.com

The event will include a military vehicle exhibit presented by the Sixth Cavalry Historical Association, food trucks, a lemonade stand and other military-associated vendor booths. At 11 a.m., a formal tribute will follow with words of remembrance by local dignitaries. The ceremony presenter and emcee will be retired Brigadier Gen. Dave Van Kleeck. He will be joined by guest speaker and Marine Corps combat veteran Brandon Harris.

The program will continue the community tradition of acknowledging the names of veterans engraved inside the walls of the Remembrance Tower at Sugar Land Memorial Park, and patriotic music tributes will be performed. The Houston Commemorative Air Force will perform a military flyover, and there will be a 21-gun salute. The ceremony will close with a traditional flag observance led by local Boy Scout and Girl Scout troops at noon.

station for children, and food trucks will be onsite with items available for purchase. Limited handicap and public parking will be available onsite. Attendees are strongly encouraged to use parking and shuttle services available at Brazos River Park. Complimentary shuttle services will run continuously from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

FROM PAGE THE MONTHLY BUSINESS MAGAZINE

Additionally, there will be a patriotic coloring

NO TICE O F PUB LIC MEETIN G TO DISCUSS B UDGET AN D PROPOSED TAX RA TE

Fort Bend Epicenter, HVA agree to multiyear partnership

The Fort Bend County Epicenter has partnered with the Houston Volleyball Academy to be the organization’s official home training and practice facility, according to a news release.

Opening in August, The Epicenter will host weekly training sessions in its multipurpose area, equipped with 4 volleyball courts, in preparation for HVA’s upcoming volleyball tournament according to the release. The event will draw more than 80 regional teams on 12 courts to the Epicenter on Jan. 6-7, 2024.

"HVA is thrilled to bring our brand of volleyball to the Epicenter and provide highlevel volleyball training and competition to this first-class facility in Fort Bend County," said Sean Carter, HVA's club director. HVA is known to be one of the top volleyball clubs

in Texas with a 30-year history, boasting boys’ and girls’ volleyball programs for ages 7-18.

HVA's youth volleyball program will train year-round, the release said, while club programs will run from November through June of each season.

"The Epicenter is focused on bringing top-notch sports and entertainment events to Fort Bend County,” said Toby Wyman, General Manager of the Epicenter. “Our partnership with HVA will positively impact the community locally, while their tournaments will bring teams from across the region to compete at our new facility.”

In the coming weeks, HVA will provide additional Information related to HVA youth and club programs at the Fort Bend County Epicenter.

Community members can visit www.hva.club to learn more about HVA.

PRIMARY CARE Personalized to You

Fort Bend Christian Academy's Visual Arts program was recently recognized as the 2023 TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 5A Art State Champions. Under the direction of the Director of Fine Arts Robert Sanders, the program has 157 students who participate in the art program at the Upper School level. This year, 35 Upper School Students submitted work for the State Competition. FBCA scored over 313 points, which was 123.5 points more than the secondhighest competitor and culminated in the State Championship title.

At the state level, FBCA students have excelled in drawing – black and white and color, communication design, computer rendered art, painting, printmaking, 2D mixed media,  photography black and white and color, sculpture, 2D relief, fashion design, textile arts, applied/industrial design, pottery, ceramics, senior portfolio, art history, on-site drawing seek and sketch – black and white and color, and short film (narrative, documentary, animation).

“This year as an Upper School we were charged to 'Be the City on the Hill'," Sanders said in a press release. "We have to start with the hearts and souls of the artist/students. Love your students and anything is possible

Fort Bend Christian Academy's visual arts students take state championship Convenient,

but if they love you back you have something special. Often I remind our team about a Jim Elliot quote; ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.’

"We balance the journey with the words of Robert Kushner in our visual arts program that states, ‘The idea of forging a new kind of art, about hope, healing, redemption, refuge, while maintaining visual sophistication and intellectual integrity is our growing movement, we want artist  to work toward the meaning of the word vanguard,’” Sanders said.

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• Offer same-day sick visits

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Fort Bend Christian Academy's Visual Arts program was recently recognized as the 2023 TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) 5A Art State Champions. (Photo courtesy Fort Bend Christian Academy)

Review: Nirmanz Food Boutique offers excellent food with 'subcontinental hip' vibe

By Ken Fountain KFOUNTAIN@FORTBENDSTAR.COM

In my never-ending quest to introduce you, dear reader, to the diverse tastes of Fort Bend County, I've reviewed restaurants featuring cuisine hailing from such places as China, Indonesia, Japan, Italy, the Mediterranean, and even the far-flung locales of Louisiana and the Texas Hill Country. The options here are so many that so far I've rarely had to "return" to the same region twice.

This week, however, I'm making another trip to the cuisine of India, which as I noted in my review of Mahesh's Kitchen in Sugar Land Town Square a while back, has not been a regular staple of my dining repertoire. Part of that has to do with the fact that I have been known to have adverse reactions to very spicy food (the less said about that, the better).

That being said, I like to think of myself as somewhat adventurous, so this past weekend a friend and I made our way to Nirmanz Food Boutique, an Indian restaurant tucked away in a smallish strip center in Sugar Land. I'd come across it during a walk after having a hamburger at the nearby Beck's Prime location off of Highway 6, and it looked intriguing. (According to the website, there is another location in Richmond.)

I'm not entirely sure what is meant by a "food

boutique," but if you're going by the menu, it might refer to the variety of foods offered. Nirmanz delivers on that promise, with numerous selections from the categories of chicken, lamp and goal, shrimp, Bombay wok , biryani, "street foo", dosa masti, aunde ka funda, thanda garam, and vegetable plates. I don't pretend to know what many of those names mean, but the fact they are all gathered in place speaks volumes.

About the décor: It's what you might call subcontinental hip. The walls and a latticework scrim that separates two dining areas are lined with art pieces that draw from Indian pop culture, including movie posters. Along one wall is a large mural of a reclining man who I was told is a famous Bollywood actor (I didn't quite catch the name). Another wall has the front ends of various motor vehicles that are widely in use in India, including one of those motorcycle-like taxicabs. From the ceiling hang upside-down multicolored umbrellas that I was told are custom-designed and shipped from India. The whole effect is enhanced by the Indian-infused pop music that wafts from the sound system.

Since I'm still somewhat unversed in Indian cuisine, I decided to go with something more on the traditional side: chicken curry with rice and a side of naan, a white flour dough bread baked in a clay oven. (A word to the wise: when visiting Nirmanz, remember that you place your order at the counter, something me and my friend had to be told.)

Our meals arrived fairly quickly, and weren't disappointing in the least. I had

The chicken curry at Nirmanz Food Boutique in Sugar Land had just the right level of spiciness. (Photo by Ken Fountain)

opted for the "mild" spicy curry, and aside from a little sweat from my scalp, suffered no ill effects. Which made the meal all the more satisfying, as it was just spicy enough and more than filling, especially with the bread. The servers were very attentive, so

FORT

BAPTIST CHURCH

BEND COUNTY

HORIZON BAPTIST CHURCH • 281-403-4994

2223 FM1092 • Missouri City, TX 77459

John Strader , Senior Pastor

Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am

Sunday Worship 10:45 am 6:00 pm

Wednesday 7:00 pm AWANA/Youth www.hbctx.org

BRAZOS BEND BAPTIST CHURCH

BRAZOS BEND BAPTIST CHURCH - 979.553.3049

22311 FM 762 RD.-Needville, TX 77461

Dr. Doug Brooks- Pastor

Sunday School/Bible Study - 9:30am

Sunday Worship Service - 10:30am

Wednesday (Team Kids) - 7:00pm

Wednesday (Bible Study) - 7:00pm

Any Prayer needs call 979.553.3049

Special Events-Resurrection (Easter) Weekend www.bbbchurch.org

METHODIST

CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND • 281-980-6888

A United Methodist Community

3300 Austin Parkway • Sugar Land, TX 77479

Rev. Dr. Daniel Irving, Senior Pastor

Sunday Schedule 9:30 am Blended Worship 9:30 am Sunday School for all ages 11:00 am Traditional & Contemporary Worship www.christchurchsl.org

EPISCOPAL

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH • 281-499-9602

605 Dulles Avenue, Stafford, TX 77477

SUNDAY: 10:30 am Worship Holy Eucharist www.allsaints-stafford.org

CHURCH OF CHRIST

STAFFORD CHURCH OF CHRIST • 281-499-2507

402 Stafford Run Rd. -Stafford, 77477 Stephen Higley, Preacher

Sunday Bible Study 9:30 am

Sunday Worship 10:30 am

Wednesday 7:00 pm www.staffordchurchofchrist.org

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH • 281-240-3195 502 Eldridge Rd. -Sugar Land, TX 77478

Reverend Dr. Fred Seay, Pastor

we weren't lacking for anything we needed (including extra water).

Since I'd had no preconceptions, I can't say I was pleasantly surprised by Nirmanz, but I was glad I went, and likely will go back again in the not-toodistant future. I think if you

do, too, you won't be disappointed.

Nirmanz Food Boutique

Address: 16338 Kensington Drive, #160

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 4-9:30 pm. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5-10 p.m. Friday; 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Saturday; 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Sunday

Entrée prices: $12-17

Kid-friendly: Yes

Alcohol: No Senior discount: No Healthy options: Yes Star of the show: Chicken Curry Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Hi! My name is Noel and I'm a sweet, goofy little girl who's looking for a forever home.

My favorite things are... PEOPLE, snuggling in bed at night, laser pointers (seriously, I will run and jump all over!), cat trees, silvervine chew sticks (I throw them around and chase them), shoe boxes, and Temptations cat treats.

I'm a bit of a picky eater, so if you're a foodie, maybe you can help figure out what my very favorite food is, since I haven't shared that secret with anyone yet.

Come visit me today at Houston Humane Society and meet my bright personality! You will fall in love with me and want me to be a new member to your family!

affliction,

832-860-1054

HOME IMPROVEMENT

San Diego Padres (19841987) before becoming an advanced scout for the White Sox from 19882008. Upon his retirement from being an advanced scout, the Space Cowboys said Jones began working with former Sugar Land Mayor Jimmy Thompson to bring a baseball franchise to Fort Bend. The franchise began as the Sugar Land Skeeters, playing in the Atlantic League from 2012-2019 and in the Constellation Energy League – a league they hosted – during the CO -

VID-19 pandemic in 2020 before becoming the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate prior to the 2021 season. “Deacon was an invaluable part of our organization and a close friend to every member of the Sugar Land front office and community,”

Space Cowboys General Manager Tyler Stamm said. “We’ve lost a pillar of our organization and a dear friend who is wholly responsible for all of us being here. Without Deacon Jones, there would be no Sugar Land franchise.” The franchise honored their longtime friend and consultant by retiring his jersey before a game at Constellation Field in

2019, and said the man will be missed by many within the organization.

“Deacon and I were one of the first four employees at the start of the Sugar Land franchise,” Space Cowboys Assistant General Manager Chris Parsons said. “He was always someone I could count on to give great advice and answer the phone when I needed; he was considered family to my family.” And the sentiment extended beyond the walls of Constellation Field and out to the Sugar Land and Fort Bend County communities. City of Stafford Mayor Pro Tem Xavier Herrera, who called Jones a close per -

sonal friend during a May 17 city council meeting. Herrera said that Jones was always eager to come out to Stafford MSD’s schools and talk to the students, and on several occasions would help get tickets to games and then greet students with joy when they came out to Constellation Field. And that’s the kind of man he was, Herrera said –always willing to lend a hand and put good out into the world.

“When you talk about a person who leaves a legacy behind, it was him,” Herrera said. “… Besides being a dear friend, he was a friend to our city and our school district.”

Sugar Land Mayor Joe

Zimmerman shared a similar sentiment during a May 16 city council meeting, and added that nobody could “hold court” quite like Jones. His voice always carried, Zimmerman said. And when he spoke, oth -

ers listened. The Space Cowboys said Jones loved telling tales of experiences with the likes of Ted Williams, Jackie Robinson, Tony Gwynn and Mickey Mantle, among others during his time.

“When he held court, he could tell stories like nobody else. We would have companies sitting in (the suites), and nobody would be watching the baseball game,” Zimmer -

man said. “They’d be in there listening to him tell stories of playing professional baseball at a time when segregation was the name of the game… it’s a great loss.”

From his desire to help others to his storytelling, to the positive legacy he left behind, all said that Jones will be remembered by many in the Fort Bend County community. “He will be missed,” Herrera said. “And the legacy he leaves behind will be prolific for many, many years.”

for

swearing

Fort Bend County Libraries to stage

'Jack & the Beanstalk'

Fort Bend County Libraries will present children’s theater performances of “Jack & the Beanstalk” at two locations to kick off the libraries’ annual Summer Reading Challenge, which begins May 29.

The first performance will take place at the Sienna Branch Library on Friday, May 26, beginning at 2 p.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 8411 Sienna Springs Blvd in Missouri City.

The performance will be repeated at George Memorial Library on Saturday, June 3, beginning at 10:30 a.m., in the Meeting Room of the library, 1001 Golfview in Richmond.

This family-friendly performance by Young Audiences of Houston’s

The Ensemble Theatre is adapted from the classic children’s tale about a boy

named Jack who trades his best friend for three magic beans.

In this musical adaptation, Jack is a young boy who wants to be a hip-hop superstar, but he lacks enough self-confidence to take his gift seriously. He also has a hard time listening and obeying his mother. He encounters a huge problem that will require his undivided attention.

Made possible by a grant funded by Young Audiences of Houston, the performance is suitable for families with children of all ages.

The performances are free and open to the public. For more information, see the Fort Bend County Libraries website (www. fortbend.lib.tx.us) or call the Sienna Branch Library (281-238-2900), George Memorial Library (281342-4455), or the library system’s Communications Office (281-633-4734).

much more pared-down proposal put forward by Council member William Bostic.

But on May 16, Jones spoke about how his decades of public service, including his career as a teacher and school administrator, were inspired by the turmoil and assassinations of the 1960;s that led him to spend his life trying to bring together people of all types.

May 01, 2023

To my patients:

NEW ERA FROM PAGE 1 FIND THEM ON PAGE 8 When it comes to local advertising & let us help boost your business! Call 281 690 4200 to see how we can help freshen up your impact! Staff Reports

It is with mixed emotions that I am announcing my retirement. My last day in the office will be May 31, 2023.

I am excited to inform you that Dr. Ajay Aggarwal, an experienced pain medicine physician, will be taking over my practice. Dr. Aggarwal is board-certified in anesthesia and pain medicine. Dr. Aggarwal and his team will continue to see you my current location. I am confident he will provide you with the highest level of care. Daisy and Ashley will stay and continue to provide the same personal and professional relationship you have become accustomed to.

To contact Dr. Aggarwal for appointments and information, please call: 979-285-9995 or 979-245-7246

For medical records of visits prior to June 1, 2023, please email: cathy@yourpaindoc.com

It has been my pleasure to be a part of your care, and I will miss our visits. I wish you all the very best.

Sincerely, Mark Brown, M.D.

mer on the San Jacinto Battlefield – with blanks. If you just got off the United flight from Chicago and plan to make Texas your new home, Pilgrim, here’s a bit of mystery and history mixed together. The Twin Sisters were a pair of naughty young women who came to our rescue, then disappeared, never to be seen again. The Sisters were two cannons used by the Texians (that’s what they called themselves

back then) at the Battle of San Jacinto, which is why there is a Texas and why you are here. So this story is worth retelling.

The cannons were 6-pounders made of brass or cast iron (there is a dispute), 5 feet 5 inches long, with a four-inch bore and weight of approximately 800 pounds. They began life on Nov. 17, 1835, when the people of Cincinnati, Ohio, wanted to aid the cause of the Texas Revolution. They raised funds to procure two cannons and their equipment for Texas. Since the United States was officially neutral toward the rebellion in Texas, the Cincinnatians listed their cannons as "hollow ware." They were manufactured at a foundry and then shipped down the Mississippi to New Orleans where the guns were placed on the schooner Pennsylvania and taken to Brazoria.

The cannons were named "Twin Sisters" at Brazoria for Elizabeth and Eleanor Rice, twin daughters of Dr. Charles W. Rice who were on board the Pennsylvania. At that time the Texas Army was in full retreat but after several unsuccessful efforts, the Twins reached the army at its camp on the Brazos on April 11, 1836. On April 19 the Texas Army of 763 soldiers arrived on the banks of the San Jacinto River, slowly fording it.

Soldiers took the floor of a house belonging to a Mrs. Batterson and used it as a raft to float the cannons across. On the day before the battle of San Jacinto the Sisters got into a fight with a Mexican artillery piece twice their size, the Golden Standard. The Standard’s first shot hit the Sisters’ commander, Lieutenant Colonel James C. Neill, in the rump. The Texians hit Cap. Fernando

Urriza in the rump, killed two mules and wrecked the Standard’s limber. So much for the first artillery duel. The next day, April 21,1836, the Sisters were probably put near the center of the Texians' line and 10 yards in advance of the infantry. Then General Sam Houston, in his usual mild manner, gave the order to his artillerymen: “Halt! Halt! Now is the critical time! Fire away! God damn you, fire! Aren’t you going to fire at all?” Boom!

During the battle they fired handfuls of musket balls, broken glass, and horseshoes, the only ammunition they had. Their first shots were fired at a distance of 200 yards, and were credited with helping to cause confusion in the Mexicans’ ranks and significantly aided the Texians’ infantry attack. Following the battle

the cannons were used to guard the Mexican prisoners. In 1840 the Twins were moved, along with other military stores, to Austin, where on April 21, 1841, they were fired in celebration of the fifth anniversary of the battle of San Jacinto. When Sam Houston was inaugurated as president of the republic that year, the Twins were fired. In 1842 the Twins were placed on the summit of “President's Hill” in Austin (I think that is where the State Capitol is today) to defend the river crossing against an attack by Mexican troops that occupied San Antonio. They were inventoried in Austin in 1843, where they remained for another 20 years.

After that the Sisters were moved here and there, used by the Texas Army, then by the Confederates. Then they disappeared. (No, they are not the two cannons guarding the south

entrance to the state Capitol, although a lot of people think they are.) Here’s the version I like best: After the end of the Civil War, in August of 1865 five discharged Rebs returning from Galveston by train got off in Houston, and one of them, 19-year-old Henry North Graves, spotted some confiscated Confederate weapons in a pile earmarked for a northern foundry and destruction. In the pile Graves found the Twin Sisters. (They had been marked at the foundry.) Graves and his companions -- John Barnett, Ira Pruett, Sol Thomas and Jack Taylor -- immediately decided to save the Sisters. As one of them remarked, "We'll bury them so deep no damned Yankee will ever find them." That night, joined by a Black man named Dan, they stole the cannons, burned the wood and leather attachments, then buried the barrels near a bayou.

SUGAR LAND INVITED TO HONOR OUR FALLEN HEROES WHO FOUGHT FOR OUR SWEET LAND OF LIBERTY Memorial weekend is a time of barbeques, bargain shopping, and three days off in a row. But also, a time to stop and honor those who fought and lost their lives so that we may enjoy the freedom to celebrate. May 28th, Sugar Land Town Square .The event starts at 7:30 p.m. FREE TO THE PUBLIC!

RICHMOND/ROSENBERG ALZHEIMER’S CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP MEETING

We hope you will join us on Thursday, June 1, at 7:00 p.m. Please join us on Thursday, June 1, at 7:00 p.m. We will be meeting in Room 105, the Gathering Room, at St. John’s UMC in Richmond. St. John’s is located at 400 Jackson Street. Alzheimer’s Association support groups are a safe place for caregivers and loved ones of people with dementia.

GUARDIANSHIP INFORMATION SESSION

Brazos Bend Guardianship Services is hosting a free adult Guardianship Information Session on Monday, June 5th at 6:00pm at the University Branch Library. Attached is a PSA with all the details. Please publish in the community calendar section of your publication.

SPACE CITY PEN CLUB

“Fountain Pen Exhibit” THROUGHOUTMay, library hours. Missouri City Library, 1530 Texas Parkway - Will.penner84@yahoo.com / 832-633-0595 The forerunners, the birth in 1884, and modern developments of fountain pens are illustrated with pens, anatomical and patent drawings, selected books and magazines, and accessories.

ONGOING

FBJSL IS ACCEPTING CAF GRANT APPLICATIONS

We provide grants of up to $5,000.00 to charitable causes serving Fort Bend County with requests to fund a critical need, pilot a program, or expand a significant service to the community. If your agency or organization is interested in applying for a CAF grant, please visit the Request Support page of the FBJSL website (www.fbjsl.org/ request-support). All applications should be submitted via e-mail to brccom@fbjsl.com

THE SANCTUARY

FOSTER CARE SERVICES

We are a child placing agency that provides wrap around care support for foster children and foster families. We provide free therapy services, 24 hr. crisis intervention, respite/alternative care services and community-based support. For more info, www.sanctuaryfostercare.org

ALIEF AARP CHAPTER 3264

Meets the first Thursday of every month at 10:00 a.m. at Salvation Army Church, 7920 Cook Road, Houston, TX 77072. Educational Program/Entertainment at each meeting. Bus Trips every month. The next Bus Trip is on April 26, 2023, to Painted Churches. Seniors 50 and above invited. Call 281-785-7372 for more information.

FORT BEND COUNTY LIBRARIES’

ONLINE BOOK CLUB

Online meetings on the fourth Wednesday of every month. Free and open to the public. Registration is required; to register online www. fortbend.lib.tx.us, “Classes & Events,” select “Virtual Programs,” find the program on the date indicated. Participants may also register by calling George Memorial Library (281-342-4455).

SUGAR LAND ROTARY CLUB

Sugar Land Rotary Club, the nation’s oldest community service organization, wants you to be its guest at a meeting that could turn out to be the best fit for getting involved with a local, non-political, humanitarian service organization with a global presence to satisfy your passion. We’re on a quest for new members! Call or email Dean Clark, 469-850-2424, dean7351@gmail.com. We’re a friendly group that meets once a week for lunch.

FT. BEND ACCORDION CLUB

Meets on the 4th Sunday of every month from 2:pm - 4:pm at: CHRIST CHURCH SUGAR LAND (in the Chapel) 3300 Austin Parkway, Sugar Land, TX 77479 FREE and Open to the Public! We welcome everybody! If you play accordion, beginners to professional and would like to play Call, Text or email: Vince Ramos Cell: 281-204-7716 vincer. music@gmail.com

FORT BEND JUNIOR SERVICE LEAGUE RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS FOR 2022-2023 YEAR

To join, the membership application can be accessed at https://www. fbjsl.org/join/how-to-become-a-member/. FBJSL will also be hosting multiple virtual and in-person recruitment events over the summer where potential new members can learn more about the League. Information regarding attending these events is available at www.fbjsl. org or on the FBJSL Facebook page at www.facebook.com/FortBendJuniorServiceLeague/.

LITERACY COUNCIL OF FORT BEND COUNTY

We enhance lives and strengthen communities by teaching adults to read. We need your help. Literacy Council is actively recruiting Volunteer Tutors to provide instruction for English as a Second Language (ESL) Levels 0-5, three hours a week. For more information, call 281240-8181 or visit our website www.ftbendliteracy.org

JAM WITH SAM

Join Sam Grice Tuesday evenings at 6:30 for a casual evening of music. We play a variety of music including bluegrass, country, gospel and some western. We request acoustic instruments only please. We welcome both participants and music lovers who enjoy listening to good live music. There’s no charge and we welcome beginners and gladly offer gentle assistance. We meet at First Presbyterian Church, 502 Eldridge Rd, Sugar Land. Please call Sam at 832-428-3165 for further information.

THURSDAY MORNING

BIBLE STUDY FOR MEN

Sugar Land First United Methodist Church, 431 Eldridge Road offers a Thursday Morning Bible Study For Men. This group is ongoing and uses a variety of studies throughout the year. The breakfast, coffee and donuts are free. Join us any time! Thursdays, 6:30-7:30 am in Wesley Hall. Call the church office at 281-491-6041 or Mike Schofield at 281-217-5799 for more information.

GIVE A GIFT OF HOPE

Give a Gift of Hope one-time or monthly. Your help provides access to therapies and services children with autism might otherwise go without. Please consider Hope For Three in your Estate, Planned, or Year-End Giving. Register now, or learn more about exciting events: www.hopeforthree.org/events

DVD-BASED ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL

CLASS WITH NO HOMEWORK REQUIRED

Weekly class designed to help you understand and appreciate the Bible by giving you a better sense of the land and culture from which it sprang. The class meets at 9:30 am every Sunday at First Presbyterian of Sugar Land (502 Eldridge Rd.). For more information call 281-240-3195

EXCHANGE

EXCHANGE, America’s Service Club, always welcomes guests and is in search of new members! Various Fort Bend clubs exist and can accommodate early morning (7 a.m.), noon and evening meeting time desires. For more info, contact Mike Reichek, Regional Vice President, 281-575-1145 or mike@reichekfinancial.com We would love to have you join us and see what we are all about!

MISSOURI CITY AARP CHAPTER 3801

Meets